Something you don't quite expect

As you enter the armory, Relia lights the torches lining up the walls, bringing light into the windowless room. Now that there is light, you can see the racks of weapons and stands of armors lining up the walls, as well as dozens of chests piled up in the middle of the room or by the walls. Walking closer to the closest spear rack, you grab a random spear and inspect it.

The spearhead is made of iron, not bronze, and polished well, signifying this weapon is regularly maintained, probably by Xenophilus. Looking closer at the spear shaft, you notice the symbol for Hephaestus engraved on the wood near the spearhead.

Whistling, you comment on the spear. "Damn, this must be made by the master-smiths of Polhephaestus. This thing ain't cheap, who would buy something of this quality and in this quantity and yet let it be forgotten inside a locked room?" You scan the other weapons in the racks, your eyes carefully looking if the other weapons also bear the symbol of the god of smithing.

Turns out not only the weapons, but also the suits of armor too seem to be from Polhephaestus. All of them are either leather armors or leather armors reinforced with steel, no heavy cuirass or plate armor can be seen among the stands.

"All of this must have cost a fortune; no wonder Relia's family tried their damnest to steal Relia's inheritance if they know her family is this rich. But all of this is useless if no one uses them, what was the old coot thinking?" No matter how good a weapon or an armor is, they have no value if no one uses them. But then again, you can't imagine what your 'father-in-law' would use them for inside the city. Other than forming a private mercenary company or an attempt to overthrow the High Council, there is no point. Though now that you think about it, these suits of armor and skillfully crafted weapons might have been useful in defending the city walls or at least this estate against the invaders, but the old coot has been dead for years now according to Relia. How could he have foreseen the fall of this once proud city way back then?

"Korban, come here. I found something." Relia calls you from the far end of the room. The fact she uses your name and not 'Master' like usual signifies this is another serious matter.

Walking to the darkest corner of the private armory, you find Relia standing before a desk, reading document after document in the flickering torchlight.

"Please tell me those are not like the letter to Apollonian Prince." You still can't believe the macabre drama of the prince's **** has just happened this noon. In just a day you have gone from Rider to prisoner, back to Rider, and now a noble with unknown assets. Sometimes you think you will wake up from this dream and find your Father bending your Mother on the dinner table and pounding away at her like you did once when you were a kid.

"Rest easy, my love, they are nothing like the letter to Apollopolis, though I am afraid they might be even more confusing." Relia smiles gently at you, though you can see the hint of amusement in her eyes.

"So, what are they?" You ask.

"They are finalised documents of deals. Trades, grants of privileges, there are even some regarding land deeds there. The weapons and armors stored here are also detailed in of the documents, though many of the goods detailed in the deals will only be delivered after a certain point according to the wordings. My father clearly must have had a purpose for all of this, but what was he planning?" Relia flips through the documents even faster in search of the answer. Meanwhile, you decide to continue inspecting the goods stored in the room.

It is at that moment that you notice the object covered in heavy dark cloth at the very corner of the armory. There is no torch at the wall near it, making it hard to be noticed. Stepping closer to it, you can see that it seems to be another armor stand like the others in the room, though you wonder why this one has to be covered like this. Carefully grabbing the cloth, you slowly pull the cloth away from the object beneath it.

Oh.

No. Fucking. Way.

You have only heard about it from the tales your father told you when he felt like it and the rumors spread around by drunk Riders at taverns and bars, but there is no mistake. Right beneath the cloth, is a chest-cuirass, shoulder plates, hip-faulds and thigh plates all made of overlapping Drakon scales. Terribly rare, and so terribly expensive. Only a handful of living Riders have ever even seen a Drakon in the wild, let alone had the wherewithal to kill one and loot their scales for armor. To find a suit of armor in place like this, well, you are now almost fully convinced this all must be a dream.

"Korban!" Relia's shout snaps you out from your stupor. Turning back to your woman, you raise an eyebrow in question.

"What got your pussy into such a twist, Relia?" You inquire.

"I... I found it. It's a letter, from my father." Relia speaks hesitantly.

"It is his will."